The Cure, Frank Turner, Gregory Porter, Jessie Ware, Keane, Scissor Sisters, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor have all offered a track each for the creation of 700 unique record sleeves for the return of the legendary charity auction Secret 7” in aid of War Child UK, the specialist charity for children caught in conflict.
Thousands of artists have submitted artworks, with 700 unique, one-off record sleeve designs selected for the anonymous auction, which opens at NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula from 11th April – 1st June in a free public art exhibition. The records will be available for auction until 1st June 2025. Details on how to bid can be found at secret7.co.uk.
Each record has a unique sleeve design inspired by the tracks put forward by this year’s musicians. Artists creating designs include fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, Turner Prize-winning sculptor Antony Gormley OBE RA, the artist behind every Radiohead album cover Stanley Donwood, interdisciplinary artist Rana Begum, Haroon Mirza, Anthony Burrill, Yooyun Yang, The Cure frontman Robert Smith, BBC Radio 1 Rock Show host Daniel P Carter, Andrew Pierre Hart, Future Awards Africa-winner Ken Nwadiogbu, Vicken Parsons and Giles Deacon among many others. Sophie Ellis-Bextor has shared Devotion, a brand-new song exclusive to War Child’s Secret 7”. Andy Vella, the designer behind The Cure’s best-loved album covers creates a brand-new record sleeve design inspired by The Cure track Warsong for the 2025 auction.
Buyers won’t know which artist – world-renowned or emerging – has designed their sleeve until after auction.
For the first time, in 2025 Secret 7” has hidden 7 Golden Records, signed by the musical artists, at beloved independent record shops across the UK. Record hunters can find clues of where to find them on the Secret 7” Instagram @secret7s. When they find a golden record sleeve, they can hand it in to the record shop counter to collect their signed Secret 7” 2025 auction Golden Record. The hunt begins today Friday April 11th 2025.
In another new addition for 2025, exhibition visitors can put on headphones and listen to the seven records as well as the full Secret 7″ archive in a new dedicated listening space on the mezzanine level at NOW Gallery. The space also offers an insider’s look at the production of this year’s 700 vinyl records and a display of artist Yinka Ilori MBE’s exclusive etching.
A record sale like no other, Secret 7” has raised nearly $1 million for charity since its inception 9 years ago. Designs for the project have broken boundaries of what a record sleeve can be, with past sleeves being made from concrete, felt, Lego, acrylic, clay, stitch work and everything in between.
This year’s records all feature an exclusive etching by Yinka Ilori MBE that’s wrapped in bright colours and a unique flower motif, bringing the phrase ‘Let Them Blossom’ to life.
“This lineup of artists – both visual and musical – who have signed up to create for Secret 7” is a testament to the creativity and prestige of the project, War Child, and our partners. We’re incredibly grateful to the artists that have, and are choosing to spend their time creating unique pieces that look brilliant, and have the knock-on effect of raising money to help us support the children living in the countries in which we work. NOW Gallery at Greenwich Peninsula is the perfect space to display these unique pieces of art, and visitors are in for a real treat once again this year. It’s a wonderful thing to create something that brings joy. Not only for those lucky enough to win their favourite sleeves in
Charlotte Nimmo, Fundraising Engagement Director at War Child UK
the auction, and to the lucky winners of our first Golden Record hunt across the UK, but also that of the children affected by war who will ultimately benefit from the funds raised, with access to education, mental health support, basic necessities, and ultimately the ability to be a child again, and play.”
This year’s 7 tracks The Cure – Warsong (Troxy Live 2024), Frank Turner – Be More Kind, Gregory Porter – Merchants of Paradise, Jessie Ware – Beautiful People, Keane – Black Rain, Scissor Sisters – Return to Oz, Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Devotion (Brand New Song, Exclusive to War Child’s Secret 7″)
War Child presents Secret 7” at Greenwich Peninsula. 11th April – 1st June 2025 NOW Gallery
Online auction: secret-7.co.uk until 1st June
The advertising campaign for this year’s Secret 7” has been kindly provided by creative street advertising specialists, BUILDHOLLYWOOD. The paper for this year’s Secret 7” has been kindly supported by GF Smith. GF Smith works in partnership with brands, creatives, designers and specialists across the globe to source, curate and supply the world’s finest paper as the foundation for those that seek to create.
